Yarn conditioning process



Patented Apr. 9, 1940 YARN CONDITIONING PROCESS Joseph "B.- Dickey and James G. McNally, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application November 26, 1937,

Serial No. 176.689

16 Claims.

This invention relates to the conditioning of textile yarns and more particularly to the conditioning of filaments and yarns composed of organic derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate. etc., -to render them more amenable to textile operations such as knitting and the like.

As is well-known in the manufacture of yarns,

particularly those composed'of or containing cellulose organic derivatives, it is necessary to treat the yarn in order to reduce the tendency toward breakage of the individual filaments or fibers when they are subjected to various mechanical 5 strains and to lubricate the yarn in order to facilitate handling in such operations as spinning, twisting, winding and reeling. In addition, it is necessary to treat yarn to adapt it for use as warp or filling or forv the manufacture of various types of knitted fabrics. In knitting, it

is particularly important that the yarn be softand pliable in order that it may conform readily to the contour of the needles and thus produce a closely knit fabric free from such defects as "stitch distortion, pin holes, laddering, and the like.

Heretofore it has been proposed to employ necessary to employ blending agents or emulsifying agents in order to obtain operable yarn treating formulae. In addition, many of the known softening and lubricating agents are in- 5 sufliciently soluble in water to permit satisfactory removal by aqueous scour baths.

This invention has as its principal object to provide an entirely new class of yarn conditioning agents which are particularly adapted for organic derivatives of cellulose and capable of lubricating, softening and rendering such yarns more amenable to knitting and other textile operations.

A further and specific object is to provide a class of conditioning agents which go the treatment of yarns composed of or containing operations where complicated designs or stitches are employed. Other objects will appear hereinafter. These objects are accomplished by the following invention which in its broader aspects comprises the discovery that ether acetals having the general formula:

. R-O 011, 1, 2, 3, etc. o11

where R. is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or

aryl group, R and R." are the same or dillerent alkyl groups, may be used as yarn conditioning agents and particularly as softening agents, with or without the addition of animal, mineral, or vegetable oils in the treatment of yarns composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose. We have found that these compounds have a slight solvent and/or softening action on cellulose organic derivative yarns which renders such yarns soft and pliable without at the same time having too drastic a solvent action thereon.

In accordance with the invention these compounds may be applied directly to the yarn during or after spinning, or may be added to the spinning solution itself. We have found that these compounds have exceptional solvent powers which enable them to dissolve mineral oils and blown and unblown, drying and semi-drying,

vegetable and animal oils and accordingly they may be, and preferably are, employed as ingredients of yarn conditioning or lubricating formulae in conjunction with agents which funcments of our invention, but they are includedmerely for purposes of illustration and not as a limitation thereof.

Ether acetals of the class above described may be presented in accordance with known technique. Typical examples of the preparation of 5 Preparation of chemicals Compt. rend. 196, 1508; Ber. 66, 468; Ber. 52, 1802; Ber. 39, 2645; Bull. soc. chim. 41, 1308 (1927); and Ann. Chim. phys. 11, 1, 439 (1934).

Our invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples in which typical applications of the invention are set forth:

Example I.-Yarn composed of cellulose acetate and designed for knitting purposes is treated by applying thereto B-ethoxydiethyl acetal by means of an applicator roll. The amount of the conditioning liquid may run from 4-25% by weight of the untreated yarn. If the yarn is intended .for weaving, the sameprocedure may be followed except that the amount of conditioning agent added to the yarn is only about 1-5 Example II.-A conditioning liquid is made up by mixing the following ingredients in the indicated proportions:

Per cent 'y-Methoxy dimethyl propylal '70 Olive oil 30 This composition is applied to a cellulose acetate yarn designed for knitting in an amount representing 4-25% by weight of the untreated yarn. The filaments or fibers thustreated are quite soft and pliable and give excellent results in textile operations, especially knitting.

Other examples of yarn conditioning which may be applied to various types of yarn, particu: larly those composed of or containing cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate and similar cellulose organic derivative yarns in accordance with our invention and which render such yarn soft and pliable and well-adapted for various textile operations, particularly knitting, are the following:

Example III Per cent fi-Butoxy dimethyl acetal 60 Blown olive oil 40 Example IV fi-Pentoxy diethyl acetal '70 Light mineral oil -30 Example V B-Cetyl ether of diethyl acetal 70 Blown sperm oil 30 Example VI B-Benzyl ether of dimethyl aoetal 30 Sperm oil '10 Example VII fi-Phenoxy diethyl acetal 30 Blown neat's-foot oil 30 Sulfonated olive oil 20 White mineral oil 10 Oleic acid 10 Ethanolamine 3 Water 'l Example VIII fi-Methoxy diethyl acetal 20 Sperm oil 60 Laurol 20 Example IX p'-Hydroxy-p-ethoxy diethyl acetal 50 Blown sperm oil 30 Sulfonated castor oil- 20 Example X A 20% solution of cellulose acetate in acetone in which is incorporated 1-25% by weight of the cellulose acetate of the -octyl ether of diethyl acetal, is extruded through fine orifices into an evaporative atmosphere. The filaments thus produced are wound or twisted and wound. Yarns produced from filaments thus prepared are pliable and suitable for knitting.

As will be apparent from the above examples and description, the conditioning agents of our invention may be applied by a wide variety of methods. For example, we may employ the agent as an ingredient of the spinning dope from which the filaments are formed, the amount of the agent so employed depending upon a number of factors, such asthe particular cellulose derivative used in making the yarn, the solvent or solvent combination used in making up the spinning solution, and the degree of softness or pliability desired in the yarn, etc.

If the conditioning agent is to be applied to the yarn after spinning, this may be done by bringing the yarn in contact with a wick, roll, or feltwet .therewith or the liquid may be applied by immersion, spray, or otherwise. The particular point at which the liquid is applied may vary. It may, for example, be applied to' the yarn inside or outside the spinning cabinet, between the guide and godet roll, between the godet or other roll or guide and the point of winding and/or twisting. In some cases, the liquid may even be applied to the yarn after winding onto cones, spools, bobbins, or-the like or by the so-called bobbin to bobbin method. In the case of staple fiber manufacture, the liquid may be applied to the yarn prior to, or after cutting into staple lengths.

The amount of the agent so employed will vary widely depending upon the results desired, the

specific nature of the material to which the agent is applied, the use to which the yarn is eventually to beput and other factors. For example, in a given case where a cellulose organic acid ester yarn such as a yarn composed of cellulose acetate, is intended for knitting, about 4 to 25% or, more by weight, based on, the weight of the dry yarn, may be satisfactory, while if the yarn is intended for weaving, the amount may vary between about 1 and 5%. g Y

Of the above compositions, we have found that those of Examples VII, IX, XII, and n1, characterized by the presence therein of p-phenoxy diethyl acetal, p'-hydroxy-B-ethoxy diethyl acetal, fi-cyclohexyl oxy dimethyl acetal and fl-butyloxymethylbutyl acetal, respectively, are unique in their ability to reduce or eliminate accumulations of staticelectricity on yarns of the type herein referred to, particularly when such yarns ance with the invention is their ability to soften are employed for the manufacture of cut staple fibers. It is therefore one of the specific features of our invention to employ these compositions as anti-static agents generally, and specifically for the manufacture of cut staple yarns. In producing cut staple fibers, the selected composition may be deposited on the fiber after the cutting operation in any convenient manner, as by a conventional type of applicator, by spray, immersion or the like. Cut staple fibers treated in this manner display a very marked reduction in their tendency to accumulate charges of static electricity and in many cases this tendency is substantially or completely eliminated,

Although in the above examples we have referred primarily to yarn treating compositions containing only the conditioning agent and an oil, other ingredients .such' as solvents, non-solvents, emulsifying agents, blending agerits and ,the like, may be added within the scope of our invention. Likewise, various dyes or other color ing matter may be included, in case it is desired to permanently or fugitively tint or dye the material undergoing treatment.

Although we have found it convenient to illustrate our invention by reference to compositions containing specific percentages of the various ingredients, these percentages may vary widely depending upon the particular purpose for which the composition is intended. For example, if it is desired to control the solvent or softening action of the conditioning agent, the amount of the agent may be adjusted as, for example, by reducing the amount of the agent and correspondingly increasing the amount of oil or other ingredient.

While we have described our invention with particular reference to the treatment of yarns composed of organic derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate, the conditioning agents and formulae described herein are applicable to the conditioning of many other types of cellulose derivative yarns such as those composed of or containing cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, benzyl cellulose and others, as well as to the conditioning of silk, wool, cotton, viscose and other natural or artificialmaterials.

The term yarn" as used herein and in the" well as cut staple :fibers produced from naturaland/or artificial filaments or threads and spun yarn produced from such staple fibers.

As indicated above, the yarn conditioning agents of our invention are exceptionally good solvents for a wide variety of mineral, blown and unblown, drying and semi-drying animal and vegetable oils such as cottonseed, olive, castor, neat's-foot, sperm and other oils. This enables them to be used with any of such oils in making up a variety of yarn treating formulae of varying composition.

The yarn conditioning method and compositions of our invention possess many outstanding advantages. The fundamental and outstanding characteristic of the agents employed in accord- 'the yarn material.

, oils when applied to such yarns.

yarns, especially those composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate and render them soft and pliableand amenable to various textile operations, especially operations such as those involved in weaving and knitting where complicated designs or stitches are employed, without too drastic an action on Another outstanding characteristic of these'compounds is their exceptional solvent power for a wide varietyof mineral, animal and vegetable oils and their ability to act as lubricatingassistants in conjunction with these In addition, due to their solubility in water, they may be readily removed from yarns and fabrics by means of the usual aqueous scour baths. By employing the yarn conditioning agents and method of our invention as herein described, one is enabled toobtain highly satisfactory results in the manufacture of yarns-and woven fabrics and especially the production'from these yarns of closely knit fabrics free from defects such as pin holes, stitch distortion, laddering and the like.

What we claim and desire to secure. by Letters Patent of the United States is: I

1. The process of conditioning yarn to render .it more amenable to textile operations including where R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and aryl,'and R and R" are alkyl groups.

2. The process of conditioning yarn composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, Weaving, spinning and the 1 like which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing as its essential lubricating and softening component an ether acetal having the general formula? where R is an organicradical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and aryl, and R and' R" are alkyl groups.

3. The process of conditioning yarn composed of or containing cellulose acetate to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing as its essential lubricating and softening component an ether acetal having the general formula:

where R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and aryl, and R and R" are alkyl groups.

4. The process of conditioning yarn composed of or containing cellulose acetate to render it more amenable to textile operations including -knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, which a comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition "containing as its essential lubricating and softening component an ether acetal having the general formula:

where R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and aryl, and R and R" are alkyl groups, and a textile lubricant.

5. The process of conditioning yarn composed of or containing cellulose acetate to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weavlng, spinning and the like, which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing as its essential lubricating and softening component fl-butoxy dimethyl acetal. I

6. The process of conditioning yarn composed of or containing cellulose acetate to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing as its essential lubricating and softening component fi-pentoxy diethyl acetal.

7. The process of conditioning yarn composed of or containing cellulose acetate to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing as its essential lubricating and softening component fl-cetyl ether of diethylacetal.

8. A conditioning agent for renderingyarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like containing p-butoxy dimethyl acetal.

' 9. A conditioning agent forrendering textile yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like containing fi-pentoxy diethyl acetal.

10. A conditioning agent for rendering textile yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate more amenable to textile operations, including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like containing fl-cetyl ether of diethyl acetal.

I 11. Textile yarn amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the area-74s like impregnated with a lubricant containing an ether acetal having the general formula:

/OR R-O (CH1) 1, 2, 3, etc. --CH where R is an organic radical selected from the roup consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and aryl, and R and R" are alkyl groups.

12. Textile yarn composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, impregnated with a conditioning agent comprising an ether acetal having the general formula:

n-o 0H,)1, 2, 3, etc. -01?! where R. is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyal kyl, and aryl, and R and R" are alkyl groups.

13. Textile yarn composed of or containing or-' ganic derivatives of cellulose amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, impregnated with a conditioning agent comprising an ether acetal having the general formula:

where R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and aryl, and R and R." are alkyl groups, and a textile lubricant.

, 14. Textile yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, impregnated with a lubricant comprising fl-butoxy dimethyl acetal.

15. Textile yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, impregnated with a lubricant comprising fl-pentoxy diethyl acetal.

16. Textile yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, impregnated with a lubricant comprising p-cetyl ether or diethyl acetal.

JAIWES G. MCNALLY. JOSEPH B. DICKEY. 

